Frequently Asked Questions

If you have been seriously injured in a Massachusetts accident, you will probably have lot of questions -- How will I pay my medical bills? Who is to blame for this accident? Is there something that could have been done to prevent this from occurring? Answers to these important questions may depend on the specific facts of your case.

The Massachusetts personal injury law firm Kiley Law Group offers a FREE Consultation -- contact us toll-free at 1 (888) 208-1695 to get started.

Below you will find answers to questions that many of our clients frequently ask.

FAQ Categories

Vehicle Accident FAQs

Are ATV Risks Avoidable?
A: What Risks are Associated with ATVs? Like some automobiles and motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) have a high risk of possible rollovers and collisions. Hundreds of thousands of people are injured or killed every year in ATV accidents. Many suffer lifelong complications. Some manufacturer models are more prone to rollovers than others due to defective… read more…
How do I handle the after effects of my Massachusetts car accident?
I didn’t feel any pain until hours after the accident and I went to the ER. I was given medication for back and neck pain, but now the pain is actually getting worse. I didn’t file a police report and the other driver’s insurance adjuster is being hostile towards me. What should I do? A:… read more…
How do I know if a brain injury is mild, moderate or severe?
A: There are three different levels of brain injury – mild, moderate and severe – each has different causes and subsequent symptoms. An assessment, called the Glascow Coma Scale (GCS) is used to determine the level of injury.Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Sometimes a loss of consciousness occurs, but does not have to occur to… read more…
How long should it take for a car accident/personal injury claim to be settled in Massachusetts?
A: Your personal injury claim is made up of many unique factors, from the circumstances of the accident, to the extent of your injuries and the parties involved. This means that no two accident claims will be alike, even if they share similar factors. As such, no one is able to determine a concrete timeline… read more…

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Motorcycle Accident FAQs

My husband was struck by a car while riding his motorcycle in Massachusetts. The car turned left in front of him and my husband hit the back of the car. He was ejected from his bike. Tragically, my husband died shortly after the accident. The driver’s insurance coverage is grossly inadequate. What are my legal options for financial restitution?
A: There are many options you have when the at-fault driver in your loved one’s fatal motorcycle accident has inadequate insurance coverage. You may be able to file a claim with your own underinsured motorist coverage, or a wrongful death lawsuit may be necessary. To determine your best course of action you should schedule a… read more…
Once an insurance company makes an offer to settle my Massachusetts personal injury claim, can I dispute the amount on the basis that the amount is not enough to cover my extensive medical bills and lost wages?
A: Insurance companies are notorious for trying to offer you the lowest personal injury settlement possible in the hopes you’ll be desperate enough to take any amount no matter unfair. Before signing any paperwork regarding a personal injury settlement, you should review the offer with a trusted Massachusetts personal injury attorney.The insurance company knows that… read more…

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Child Injury & Abuse FAQs

Will My Child Injury Case Go To Court?
A: Once you and your attorney determine that your child’s injury meets the legal requirements for a valid claim, you may proceed with serving the claim and filing the lawsuit for compensation. Most child injury cases settle out of court. Please be aware that if your case does go to court, your child may be… read more…
Who is Liable in a School Bus Accident?
A: Over 23 million children ride school buses everyday. While the vast majority of those rides end safely, at least 19 children die each year as a result of a school bus-related accident. School bus accidents can be the result of: A collision on the road Slip and fall accident while the bus is stationary… read more…
My child went on a field trip to the local public pool in Massachusetts with her summer camp. She almost drowned and now suffers from a brain injury because of it. Can we file a lawsuit against the camp and the pool?
A: If your child suffered a serious injury such as an anoxic brain injury while under the supervision of a camp counselor, you may need to seek the help of a Massachusetts child injury attorney to file a lawsuit against the camp and/or the public pool. When you register your child for a summer camp… read more…
Does Massachusetts have daycare regulations that are aimed at protecting children?
A: The Massachusetts government has established several sets of guidelines and daycare regulations for Massachusetts daycares and other forms of child care services. These guidelines encompass summer/day camps, daycares, child development facilities, and in-home child care. The daycare regulations cover all aspects of Massachusetts daycare operations, including licensing, staff requirements, facility needs, curriculum/activity guidelines, health… read more…

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Birth Injury FAQs

What type of damages might I collect for a birth-related injury?
A: Expenses for attorney fees, court costs and medical bills are commonly awarded. You may also secure monetary damages for personal pain and suffering experienced by the baby or the mother during delivery or as a result of associated mental anguish.
Will a lawyer take every birth injury case?
A: Medical malpractice attorneys accept such cases based on their potential for success in court. Even if your baby has a documented medical condition arising form a birth injury, if evidence or expert testimony is lacking, it may not be economically or legally viable to pursue the claim in court.
As parents of a child diagnosed with cerebral palsy, how do we determine what was the cause?
A: As parents of a child diagnosed with cerebral palsy you will need to determine whether your child experienced asphyxia during labor or delivery and whether or not the doctor failed to recognize signs of developing asphyxia. Many times there is a window of opportunity for minimizing the child's brain injury. You as a parent… read more…
Can trauma to the child during birth cause brain injury such as cerebral palsy?
A: Yes, especially if the labor and delivery was traumatic and caused asphyxia or insufficient oxygen to the child's brain. Although there are other potential causes, asphyxia during birth is a significant cause of cerebral palsy and it is preventable.

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Defective Product & Liability FAQs

What is a Post-Collision Fuel-Fed Fire?
A: A post-collision fuel-fed fire (PCFFF) can occur when a vehicle is struck from the rear and an unsafe or defective gas tank is unable to sustain the collision.Fires can erupt if there is fuel, oxygen and an ignition source (e.g. a spark). All three elements are often present following an accident, and if the… read more…
What is Bisphenol A?
A: Bisphenol A (BPA) is both an ingredient in polycarbonate plastic and an additive to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. You may recognize its helpful properties in items you regularly use like baby and water bottles, CDs and DVDs, optical lenses and the linings of soft-drink cans. Recent health studies have linked BPA with a higher… read more…
Are Jet Skis safe for children?
A: Jet Skis, and other personal watercrafts (PWC), are widely popular among children and teenagers, but experts question how safe the vehicles are for inexperienced and immature operators. Over 100 children are injured or killed annually in personal watercraft accidents. Additionally, in a study conducted by the University of Florida, trauma surgeons found that children… read more…
Why is lead a concern in toys?
A: The U.S. government is strengthening its requirements for permissible lead levels in all products offered for sale, but putting the plan into effect will take a few years. Children who ingest or absorb lead are at risk right now, due to the more vulnerable state of their developing bodies. The human body cannot release… read more…

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Medical Malpractice FAQs

What should I do if my doctor made a mistake during surgery?
A: Being the victim of a medical malpractice surgical mistake is devastating, but there are steps you can take to recover. Most medical malpractice lawsuits involve surgical mistakes. Surgical mistakes can include: A surgical instrument left inside the body after surgery An operation on the wrong side of the body An unneeded surgery due to… read more…
How common is medical malpractice?
A: Surgery is scary enough without worrying about surgical errors or injuries. Still, the numbers show that concerns are warranted. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reports that more than 225,000 people die each year from medical malpractice.JAMA states that of these medical malpractice-related deaths: 106,000 resulted from adverse reactions to medications 80,000… read more…

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Personal Injury FAQs

What Constitutes a Premises Liability Case?
A: Premises liability refers to the responsibility of the owner of a piece of land or occupants of a property (such as a business, restaurant, etc) when a person is injured or killed on that property due to negligence. The idea behind a premises liability case is to protect innocent victims after they have been… read more…
Who is Liable If I’ve Been Hurt in a Public Bus Accident?
A: There are a variety of reasons why a public bus may be involved in an accident. Whether the bus accident was the result of simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time or because of negligence, the injuries that result from the bus crash still need to be addressed.Common causes of bus… read more…
What are common “slip and fall” injuries?
A: “Slip and fall” is a general legal term used to describe an injury which occurs when someone slips, trips, or falls because of a dangerous or hazardous condition on someone else’s property.According to the federal government, more than 1 million people slip and fall every year. 300,000 disabling slip and fall accidents occur in… read more…
There was a gas leak in the apartment I was renting. As a result, I suffered third degree burns on both of my feet and needed skin graphs. The gas company later discovered that the leak was coming from the kitchen stove. Who should I sue, the landlord or the gas company, or both?
A: There are many potential liable parties involved in your personal injury case and without knowing the full details there’s no definite answer that will work for everyone. For the best consideration of your individual personal injury case, you should consult with an Andover personal injury attorney. Another party is liable for your injuries, but… read more…

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